Lubricator for air compressors



Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,390

J. 1.. BUCHMANN LUBRICATOR FOR AIR COMPRESSORS Filed June 5. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 4, 1923'.

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LUBRICATOR FOR AIR COMPRESSORS.

Application filed June 3,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jason L. BUCHMANN, a citizen 01" the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lubricators for Air Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lubricators for air compressors, such as the air compressor cylinders and pistons of the air compressor pumps of locomotives, one object of the invention being to provide simple, reliable and efiicient automatic means for keeping the surfaces of the air cylinders and pistons constantly and reliably lubricated.

A further object of the invention is to provide lubricating means of the character specified wherein the lubricating oil, containedwithin a tank or reservoir, is heated by conduction from one of the steam cylinders of the pump and is thereby vaporized, the oily vapor passing from the reservoir to the air cylinders under the suction produced by the pistons thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubricator of the character specified which may be manufactured, installed and maintained in working condition at a low cost.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive air compressor pump showing the application of my invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sec- .tion through the air reservoir and showing the parts located therein.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the reservoir illustrating the application of the heat non-conducting material thereto.

Referring to the drawings the numerals 1 and 2 respectively designate the high and low pressure steam cylinders and the numerals 3 amid the high and low pressure air compressor cylinders of an air compressor pump of the general type described, which may be of any ordinary or preferred construction. In practice, as is well known,

' the steam supplied to the cylinders 1 and Serial No. 565,676.

2 from the locomotive operates the pistons arranged therein, which in turn transmit motion through suitable connections to the pistons contained within the cylinders 3 and. a. I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the pistons and steam and air'supply and discharge connections, as these may be of common type and of themselves constitute no part of my present invention.

1 provide means for lubricating the surfaces of the cylinders 3 and 4 and the pistons operating therein. A body of oil 5 employed for this purpose is contained within a storage tank or reservoir 6 and extends to a predetermined level therein, such body of oil having its upper surface generally terminating below the. horizontal center of the tank 6, leaving the upper por tion of the tank free from liquefied oil and forming an oil or vaporizing and collection chamber 7. The tank 6 is provided with a suitable filling opening closed by a plug or other suitable closure 8 and is arranged along side one of the cylinders 1 or 2 so as to be heated by conduction from the heat of said cylinder. For this purpose, the tank 6 is arcuately curved in a longitudinal direction so as to snugly bear against and embrace a portion of the cylinder 1, said tank being secured in position in any suitable manner against possibility of displacement. The tank 6 is made of metal of some good heat conductivity, and its concaved side 9, which bears against the wall of the cylinder 1, is left exposed so as to be in heat conducting contact therewith. By this means the interior of the tank 6 will be heated from the highly heated steam cylinder 1, thus heating the body of oil 5 to such a degree as to cause constant evapora tion of portions of the oil, the oily vapor rising from the body of oil to the chamber 7 at the top of the tank 6.

Arranged within the collecting chamber 7 is a vapor inlet nozzle or collector generally indicated at 10. This collector is longitudinally curved to conform to the curvature of the tank 6 and is preferably formed of a piece of piping. This piping is bent to provide a U-shaped portion embodying a lower horizontal limb 11, an upper horizontal limb 12 and a vertical limb 13 connecting the limbs 11 and 12 at one end. The upper horizontal limb 12 is disposed at the top of the chamber 7 and is suitably closed at its opposite end, and said limb forms the inlet vtheir thorough and proper nozzle or vapor collector proper, being provided for such purpose in its underside with a longitudinal series of inlet openings 14 for the admission of the oily vapor from the chamber 7 thereinto. The lower horizontal limb 11 forms the upper element of a conductor 15 leaning from the tank to the low pressure air pump cylinder l, and said conductor is provided with a check valve 16 adapted to allow the vapor to flow toward the cylinder 4t and to prevent its return. The limb 11 and contiguous portion of the conductor 15 further serves as a heating member for keeping the oily vapor on its passage to the cylinder 1 in a heated state so that it will be delivered to said cylinder 4 in a properl vaporized condition. Where the amount c tvapor generated is sometimes slightly in excess of that used by the cylinders 3 and 4:, which may at times be the case, the limb 11 and portion of the conductor 15 enclosed within the tank6 serve as a vapor storage line or pipe to keep the vapor heated to a proper temperature until used.

Leading from the vertical limb 13 is a conductor 17 which communicates with the high pressure air cylinder 3 for the supply of oily vapor thereto, and said conductor is provided with a check valve 18 adapted to permit the oily vapor to pass through the pipe to the cylinder and to prevent its return. In order to prevent loss of heat and to maintain the contents of the tank 6, and the Walls of said tank, in a properly heated condition, the top, bottom and end walls of said tank are preferably provided with a covering 19 of heat non-conducting material as shown in Figure 4, and; the exposed portions of the conductors 15 and 17 are also preferably provided with a covering of this kind, whereby chilling of the conductors will be prevented and the oily vapor maintained in a vaporized condition for proper delivery to the cylinders 3 and a.

When the compressor is in operation it will be understood that the body of oil 5 contained within the tank 6 will be heated from the cylinder 1 so that portions of the oil will be constantly evaporated, the oily vapor rising into the chamber 7 and being drawn by the suction produced by the pis tons operating in the cylinders 3 and 4: through the openings 14 into the inlet nozzle or collector 7 from which the oily vapor passes through the conductors 15 and 17 to the cylinders. This vapor on its passage into the cylinders 3 and 4 is distributed to the opposed surfaces of the cylinders 3 and 1 and the piston operating therein, thus keeping them constantl coated with a line film of oil and ensuring lubrication; This continues as long as the compressor is in motion, and is automatically arrested as soon as the working motion of the compressor is stopped. By the described con= struction of the lubricator it will .be evident that economy will be secured in the use of oil as the oil is supplied in such a way as a small quantity will coat a very large area of surface, preventing over supply of oil While at th same time furnishing sufiicient for effective lubrication. As the oil is furnished in a vaporized condition, its thorough penetration to all surfaces required to be lubricated is ensured. Economy is also obtained, as the cost of operation is nil above the cost of the oil and the initial cost of the apparatus and the cost of maintenance thereof, the maintenance cost being low because of the absence of operating elements causing undue Wear and tear. Furthermore, as the apparatus is simple, it may be supplied at a comparatively low cost, and as the heat of the steam cylinders is utilized for the purpose of vaporizing the oil, the use of. auxiliary heating means for this purpose is avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim: I

1. In a lubricator for the air cylinders of air compressor pumps, the combination with the air and steam cylinders of the com pressor, of an oil reservoir having a Wall. surface in conducting contact with a steam cylinder so as to be heated therefrom for heating and vaporizing the oil therein, means for collecting the oily vapor, and means for delivering the same to said cylinders.

2. In a lubricator for the air cylinders of air compressor pumps, the combination with the air cylinders and the steam cylinders of the compressor, of an oil storage reservoir heated from a steam cylinder so as to 105 vaporize portions of a body of oil therein, means for collecting the oily vapor, and means for conducting said oily vapor to'th'e air cylinders.

3. In a device for lubricating the air cyl- 110 inders of air compressor pumps, the combination with the air cylinders and the steam cylinders of the compressor pump, of an oil storage tank arranged to partially embrace one of the steam cylinders so as to be 115 heated therefrom to va'porize'portions of a body of oil contained therein, means an ranged in said tank for collecting the oily vapor, and conductors leading from the collector to the air cylinders for the draft of 120 the oily vapor by suction into the collector and through said conductors to said cylinders.

l. In a lubricating device for the'air c inders of air compressor pumps, the com i-' 125 nation with the air cylinders, of an oil reservoir for containing a body of oil, means'forheating the same to convert the oil into vapor, a collector disposed in said'reser'voir above the body of oil, and conductors lead 130 ing from said collector to the air cylinders.

5. In a device for lubricating the air cylinders of air compressor pumps, the combination with the air and steam cylinders of a compressor pump, of an oil reservoir tank of arcuate form arranged to partly embrace a steam cylinder so as to be heated therefrom for vaporizing portions of a body of oil contained therein,- a collector disposed in said reservoir above the body of oil, and suction pipes leading from said collector to the air cylinders.

6. A lubricator for the purpose described comprising an arcuately curved tank adapted for containing in its lower portion a body of oil and having a vapor chamber in its upper portion above the level of the oil, a pipe disposed in said chamber and having inlets for the flow of the oily vapor thereinto, a second pipe disposed below the firstnamed pipe and in parallel relation thereto, a conductor leading from said second-named pipe, a vertical connection between said pipes, and a conductor leading from said vertical connection.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JACOB L. BUCHMANN. 

